Patterns of Melanophores on Backs
The patterns of melanophores on the backs (dorsa) of baby fish are extremely variable; they form a continuum from a few spots of melanophores to an overall cover of melanophores. Seven examples, below, show the continuum of backs of baby fish. Other kinds of back patterns are evident on various other images of baby fish in the "Illustration Gallery". Remember: melanophores vary from punctate to stellate, depending upon the environmental conditions. Remember: the pattern (maculae) changes as the baby fish grows.
Figure 1) Melanophores on the backs of baby fish: A back (dorsal) view of an 11 mm specimen of an Alligatorfish, Aspidophoroides monopterygius (Bloch), below, shows five patterns of melanophores along the back, a head pattern, three back patterns and a tail pattern.
Figure 2) Melanophores on the backs of baby fish: A back (dorsal) view of a 4.5 mm specimen of a Fourbeard Rockling, Enchelyopus cimbrius (Linnaeus), below, shows three patterns of melanophores, a circular head pattern with seven stellate melanophores, an oval pattern with 11 stellate melanophores between the pectoral fins, and a linear pattern with six stellate melanophores between the pectoral and caudal fin.
Figure 3) Melanophores on the backs (dorsa) of baby fish: A back (dorsal) view of a 12.2 mm specimen of a lake whitefish, Coregonus clupeaformis (Mitchill), below, shows three patterns of melanophores, a circular head pattern, a short linear pattern between the pectoral fins, and a further linear pattern of two rows of similarly sized stellate melanophores, about 40 melanophores in each row, extending from the base of the pectoral fins backward to the caudal fin.
Figure 4) Melanophores on the backs (dorsa) of baby fish: A back (dorsal) view of a 9 mm specimen of a Lingcod, Ophiodon elongatus Girard, below, shows three patterns of melanophores, an oval head pattern with about 35 punctate melanophores, a linear pattern between the pectoral fins back to the dorsal fin, and another linear pattern consisting of four rows of similarly sized punctate melanophores, about 20 melanophores in each row.
Figure 5) Melanophores on the dorsa (backs) of baby fish: A back (dorsal) view of a 18.4 mm specimen of a wrymouth, Cryptacanthodes maculatus Storer, below, shows two patterns of melanophores, a complex head pattern with about 60 punctate melanophores and a back pattern consisting of two double rows of punctate melanophores extending from the pectoral fins to the caudal fin.
Figure 6) Melanophores on the dorsa (backs) of baby fish: A back (dorsal) view of a 5.5 mm specimen of a Brook Stickleback, Culaea inconstans (Kirtland), below, shows two different kinds of melanophores, large punctate melanophores and smaller punctate melanophores scattered over the entire back.
Figure 7) Melanophores on the backs (dorsa) of baby fish: A back (dorsal) view of an 18 mm specimen of a Atlantic Wolffish, Anarhichas lupus Linnaeus, below, shows one size of melanophores scattered over the entire back including the head and body.
